Germinating cannabis seeds is a crucial step in growing healthy cannabis plants. Here are some tried and tested methods to successfully germinate your cannabis seeds:
1. seed selection
Inspect your seeds before germination. Darker seeds usually have a higher germination rate than pale green or white seeds. We only provide you with high-quality female seedswhich we strongly recommend. If you would like to find out more about the benefits of feminized seeds, click here. If you don't have that much experience yet, we recommend an autoflowering strain for beginners, such as the Super Skunk Automatic. You can also try a Fast Flower variety, which will flower more quickly.
Even if darker seeds look slightly damaged, they should still be planted. There is a good chance that they will still germinate, even if the outer shell is somehow dented.
2. temperature & humidity
Cannabis seeds require a dark, warm and humid atmosphere in order to germinate. A temperature of around 21°C is ideal. Disinfect your hands to prevent germs or bacteria from infecting the seedling. In any case, a propagation house is helpful, as the increased humidity favors the germination and growth of the plant.
There are various methods:
The water glass method
Our recommendation and prerequisite for the germination guarantee: A tried and tested method is the water glass method. Place the seeds in cold tap water (cold water has more oxygen) or rainwater. They should germinate after 72 hours, but can also take up to 7 days. The advantage here is that you can see exactly which seed is germinating and the seeds cannot dry out. Then carefully place the seeds in potting compost (potting compost is special nutrient-poor and fine soil) and cover the seeds with a maximum of 0.5 cm of soil. Keep the soil slightly moist, but not wet.
Directly into the ground
Of course, you can also plant the seed directly in potting compost and keep it slightly moist. Please keep the soil no more than 0.5 cm deep and not too wet, otherwise the seedling may suffocate. Always use pots with holes so that excess water can drain away. Waterlogging is deadly for hemp, regardless of the growth phase.
Damp paper towel
Place the seeds on a paper towel and spray them with room temperature water. The cloths should be damp, but not wet. However, the cloth must not dry out under any circumstances, otherwise the seedling will die. Check the paper towels regularly and moisten them slightly if necessary. ATTENTION: This method has proven to be very error-prone and the germination rate is remarkably low. We therefore no longer recommend this method, contrary to all recommendations on the Internet.
Swelling tablet
Alternatively, you can use a coconut swelling tablet, so the seed is guaranteed to be supplied with sufficient moisture. The advantage here is that you can place the seedling directly into the potting compost after 1-2 weeks with the swelling tablet and there is no risk of damaging the small plant. Please do not plant the seed too deep, maximum 0.5 cm, otherwise it will not make it to the top. ATTENTION: Unfortunately, many low quality swelling tablets are in circulation and contain substances that inhibit growth. We are currently conducting tests to prove this. We therefore no longer recommend this method.
CAUTION: One of the most common reasons why cannabis seeds do not germinate or the seedling dies is that the soil is too wet or of poor quality. This suffocates the seedling because it needs oxygen. Keep the soil moist, but not too wet.
3. patience & caution
Germinated seeds are fragile at first. Handle them carefully so as not to damage the roots. Disinfect your hands or wash them thoroughly to protect the seedling from bacteria and germs.
Leave the young seedlings alone, but monitor them regularly.
4. germination time
- Cannabis seeds can take up to a week or more to germinate. Plan for this when growing, especially outdoors where the local climate must be taken into account.
- In general, we recommend germinating the seeds indoors, even if you want to grow them outdoors later.
The most important thing is that you use high-quality soil and cannabis seeds with good genetics . It will be worth investing a little more money in these two components.
After germination, you should use potting compost, which has a slightly lower nutrient content, allowing the roots to develop faster as they search for nutrients. As soon as your plant has formed its first "real" leaves, you can place it in the pre-fertilized soil (tomato soil or special hemp soil). Now the well-developed root system can access many nutrients. You will be amazed at how quickly it develops and gives you pleasure every day.
Tip: The small hemp plants tend to grow very quickly. To prevent this, provide them with sufficient light and some wind immediately after germination, then they will be stable from the start. You can also simply place them outside.
If any of our seeds do not germinate, please write to us and we will try to find the error so that your next seeds are guaranteed to germinate and you can achieve good yields. In general, BudVoyage cannabis seeds have a germination rate of 99%. It is therefore very unlikely that the seed will not germinate if you follow the instructions.
Remember that cannabis seed germination is a natural process, and even experienced growers can occasionally encounter problems. Good luck with your cannabis cultivation! 🌱🌿